This adorable teddy wrist rattle is a great last minute project. It can be customized easily by changing the wrist band and sewing on safe embellishments. Use any color felt for the project. You may also use fabric remnants of your choice.
The wrist rattle also doubles as an ankle rattle to encourage your baby to kick. It can be made for either a boy or a girl by using different colors of felt or embellishments such as a cute bow. Make sure that you sew on the embellishments well so that they are not pulled off easily.
To create this rattle, you will need the following:
Materials:
Brown, black, and ivory felt Black embroidery thread Matching sewing thread Sewing needle Jingle bell Light loft quilter's batting (small amount) Any 1 inch wide ribbon Sew-on Velcro (white) Iron-on hemming tape Scissors Measuring tape Iron
Step 2: Measure your baby's wrist, double the length for the measurement of the ribbon wrist band plus an additional 4 inches. (i.e. if the wrist circumference is 4 inches, then the measurement is 8 inches plus 4 more inches, making it 12 total inches) Cut ribbon to length.
Step 3: Cut 1 1/2 inches of the soft side of Velcro and the hook side to 1 inch lengths. (See photo A.)
Step 4: Once all pieces for the wrist rattle are cut out, take the small amount of quilter's batting and wrap it around the jingle bell making sure that it is secure by hand stitching it closed.
Step 5: Sandwich between the two head pieces the batting with the jingle bell. Whip stitch the head together with the jingle bell inside. (See photo B.)
Step 6: Whip stitch the pieces of the inside of the ears, snout, and nose to the head. Hand embroider eyes using the black embroidery thread. (See photo C as a guide for placement.)
Step 7: Fold ribbon for wrist band into thirds and fold under end of right side by 1/2 inch making sure that the fold of end overlaps left side. Use lowest setting, iron ribbon to create folds. (See diagram A.) Measure hemming tape to fit into wrist band. Cut to length. Place hemming tape on top of ribbon so that the left side overlaps on top first then the right side. Iron. (See diagram A.)
Step 8: Sew ribbon wrist band to back of head by stitching a square then an X on top of folded end. (See photo D.)
Step 9: Using photo E as a guide, sew soft side of Velcro on left side of wrist band making sure that the teddy bear is facing you.
Step 10: To complete the teddy wrist rattle, using photo F as a guide, sew hook side of Velcro opposite side of wrist band making sure that the teddy bear is facing down when sewing.
Tip: You may also machine sew the head together and then stuff the batting with the jingle bell in it. This can also be done for attaching the Velcro to the strap if you desire.
